‘I bought you a Christmas present, and you twist it into some sort of revenge!’ Gramps yelled, before deliberately hunching against the passenger window and closing his eyes.
‘I don’t know what to do,’ Beckett whispered once his grandfather began to snore a few minutes later. ‘I’m scared, Gramps. Please tell me what to do.’
24
MARY
I had another cryptic message from Sofia, asking if I was around on Saturday, to which the answer was, unsurprisingly, yes.
Sofia
Fab! We’ll pick you up at ten x
Mary
Any hints? Dress code? Pushchair or papoose? Snacks?
Sofia
Nope
Once Bob woke up, I had plenty of time to do a half-hearted tidy-up, shoving all the costume stuff in the dining room. While he enjoyed his morning snooze, I showered and dressed in my most versatile outfit, which was wide-legged jeans with a stretchy waist and a smart bottle green cashmere jumper that Shay had given me after deciding it was too baggy on her. I could fit into about half of my pre-pregnancy clothes now. While I loved having a change from leggings and joggers, it did feel daunting, as if this was another step out of my self-imposed hibernation.
I packed up a bag for Bob, checked I’d got my purse and a water bottle, and sat fretting until a car pulled up at ten past eleven, and the coffee mums tumbled out.
The moment I opened the door, they spilled inside, with various cries of greeting, hugs and smiles.
‘Am I allowed to ask what this is yet?’ I asked, the trepidation clear in my voice.
‘Didn’t Sofia tell you?’ Rosie asked, shaking her head at her friend. ‘What about the no secrets rule?’
‘This isn’t a secret. It’s a fun surprise,’ Sofia retorted.
‘Look at the poor woman. Does she look like she’s having fun?’ Rina said, putting a sympathetic arm around my shoulder. ‘Go on, Li. It was your idea. You tell her.’
‘It’s Li’s birthday spa day!’ Li held out her hands like an old-fashioned game show hostess showcasing a prize.
‘I’m pretty sure babies still aren’t allowed in spas,’ I said.
‘They are in Li’s birthday spa,’ Li said, beaming.
‘Come on, the rest of us have got a child-free day,’ Rosie said. ‘No offence, Mary, but I for one don’t want to waste a minute.’
‘I don’t think I’ve got a swimming costume. Or a birthday present for Li.’
‘Not a problem. We guessed as much,’ Rina said. ‘It’s all sorted. Cossie, robe, slippers, and the present is your presence. Off we go.’
And then I was bundled out of the door and into Sofia’s people carrier while still trying to get my second boot on.
Once Bob was strapped in beside me, and Rosie’s DJ husband’s ‘Cracking Good Christmas Crackers’ playlist was turned up high enough to drown out the caterwauling to ‘One More Sleep’, they confessed that the spa was back at Li’s house. She’d only come to pick me up because she wanted to see the look of joy on my face. I apologised for her wasted trip and tried to look suitably excited.
‘Itinerary for the day,’ Li announced after insisting the music was turned off so we could pay attention. ‘Brunch upon arrival, followed by hot tub, then Ellie and Kendra will do treatments. We’ve a winter-themed afternoon tea and time for more hot-tubbing, Jacuzzi, nap room or gym. We’re missing a pool, and the sauna and steam-room stuff, but you can always sit in the airing cupboard or turn the fire up until we start sweating, if it’ll make more of an authentic spa experience.’
‘Li, I have never been to a spa,’ Sofia said. ‘You could have stopped at brunch and I’d be happy. Mary, have you done a spa day before?’
I had. Our ShayKi directors’ away days had often involved sipping prosecco in fluffy robes by the side of a pool while discussing five-year goals and brainstorming future plans. None of these future plans had featured an argument so ferocious that one director packed her bags and fled the company, her apartment and twenty years of friendship, never to be seen again.
The next six hours were as heavenly as any high-end luxury spa could be.
